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A World Away Travels adventure travel's complete experience… Phone 1-719-850-0262 ~ email [email protected] www.aworldawaytravels.com Laya and Masang Gang Base Camp Starting in the warm subtropical Punakha Valley our trip visits the town's impressive riverside Dzong before heading up the Mo River valley and the beginning of our trek to the foot of Masang Gang and the charming mountain village of Laya. Heading north into Bhutan's steep forested hillsides we visit Gasa Dzong and it neighboring hot springs. Clinging to the rivers gorge we enter the high Himalayas and the hidden district of Laya with its impressive mountain scenery and friendly warm people whose dress and culture are unique to Bhutan. Still climbing higher we reach our ultimate destination the foot of Masang Gang, one of Bhutan's most stunning peaks. Combined with insightful touring in Paro, Thimphu and Punakha; this adventure in an incredible introduction to beautiful, fascinating and rarely visited part of the world. Day 1-2 Travel to Bangkok Day 3 Arrive in Bhutan In the morning fly to Bhutan. Paro is located in a flat valley awash with rice fields that lie above a narrow gorge. This fertile valley was the seat of power in Western Bhutan during the nineteenth century. In the afternoon you will have a chance to visit the valley's largest dzong, Paro Dzong, correctly known as Richen Pung Dzong. A dzong is a fortress that holds offices for civil officials and quarters for monastic authorities. All dzongs were built in harmony with the land that they protect and often rise directly out of the ridges they were built upon. Walking through this ancient walled fortress is like taking a step back in time when Bhutan had to protect itself from its neighbor Tibet. Paro Dzong is truly a spectacular site. Within the Dzong there are several smaller chambers where monks gather as well as temples. You will be able to visit neighboring temples with your guide acting as an interpreter allowing you to talk with the temple caretakers and monks. This is a very fascinating way to learn about Bhutan. You will spend the evening at Gangtey Palace Hotel. The hotel provides a spectacular view of the Paro Valley. Gangtey Palace was a fortress owned by the father of the late Prime Minister of Bhutan. The hotel's traditional architecture is charming and a chance to stay in a unique building. All of our guests love their stay at Gangtey. Accommodations: Gangtey Palace or similar Lunch, Dinner Upgrades to Paro’s Luxury Resorts Available- Please Ask. Day 4 Paro After an early morning breakfast, you will drive up to Satsam Chorten for a moderate half-day hike to Taktsang Monastery. The name Taktsang means "Tiger's Nest." This magical monastery clings to vertical granite cliff 2,000 feet above the valley floor. Legend says that Guru Padmasambhava flew to a cave on this cliff riding a tiger, hence the name, to meditate. The tiger was actually his favorite consort, Yeshe Tsogyel, whom he transformed into a tiger for this journey. They meditated in the cave, and when the Guru left, he instructed that the monastery be built. After lunch high above the Paro Valley you will return to town for further exploration. Possible excursions include visiting the National Museum, Ta Dzong. The museum is housed in Paro Dzongs watchtower. It has a beautiful collection of thangkas and a great assortment of artifacts from around the country, but most impressive is the building itself. Another possible excursion includes visiting Kyichu Lhakhang. Built in 659 by King Songsten Gampo, the monastery was one of 108 built to help spread Buddhism through the Himalayas. It is located just outside of Paro and is one the country's most sacred places. Accommodations: Gangtey Palace Hotel or similar Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 5 Paro to Punakha To reach the beginning of our trek we will first drive to Bhutan’s capitol, Thimphu, to have lunch. From here we will take a scenic drive across the Dochu La (10,200 feet) to Punakha and Wangdiphodrang. Crossing the pass, there are great northern views of Bhutan's Eastern Himalayan ranges. Driving through swarms of prayer flags fluttering in the wind, you cross the pass and descend through magnificent pine, magnolia, and rhododendron forests into the sub-tropical Punakha river valley. This route offers some of Bhutan’s most picturesque countryside. Before arriving in Punakha, you will take a short hike through terraced fields of rice to Chimi Lhakhang. The trail leads through the fields to the settlement of Pana. You will continue your walk to the temple. This beautiful temple is known for increasing fertility in women and in recent years Bhutanese women have been joined by women from other countries who journey to this temple in hopes of becoming pregnant. Aside from its significance to women, the temple is located in a wide-open valley making it a beautiful short walk en route to Punakha. Punakha's importance lies largely in the past, when it was Druk Yul's capitol, but the elaborate art within and the dzong's sheer size give hint to Punakha's former days of glory. After exploring the Punakha Valley by foot, you will drive above the valley floor to the Meri Puensum Hotel. The hotel has dramatic views of the surrounding terraced fields and to the north, the snow covered Himalayas. Accommodations: Meri Puensum Hotel or similar Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner The following is an excerpt from a presentation we recently did about Bhutan and Punakha Dzong- Visitors are allowed to explore the Dzong while the royal abbot is in Thimphu. We had a chance to climb the dzong's steep stairs and enter into this ancient fortress. Walking inside any dzong in the afternoon, we were initially struck with its sheer size. The walls were at least 5-10 feet thick and towered into the sky. A central tower dominates the inner courtyard; the white washed walls were ablaze with light. In the courtyard, monks in red robes walked between their quarters and teaching classroom. At the far end of the Punakha Dzong is a grand temple under construction. Under construction we were able to enter this temple that is normally off-limits to tourists. Climbing to the second floor balcony, we looked down over the dim light and watched as artists, dangling from bamboo scaffolding constructed 40 foot clay statues that continued past our stance to the ceiling above. Between us and the statues of Buddha and Guru Rimpoche were at least 25 - 2.5 x2.5 foot wood columns wrapped in copper adorned with intricate patterns. In front of us, it was as if time has stood still and we were looking at artisans hundreds and hundreds of years ago working together to build something of astonishing proportions. It was the answer to my question: how did they build these incredible structures such a long a long time ago? Laya and Gasa Trek Day 6 Punakha to Damji to Gasa (9141 ft) 9 miles/ 6 Hrs After breakfast we will travel to the trailhead and the beginning of our trek. Driving through forests of orchids, creepers and banana trees the road gently ascends before reaching the village of Damji (8,019 ft). Placed in huge side valley the village is set in a natural amphitheater of rice terraces. Your trek to the Laya-Masang Gang region begins from the village of Goen Damji. Walking along the Mo Chhu ("Mother River") over rolling hillsides the path weaves its way through a mosaic of traditional Bhutanese villages before reaching a high crest where the Himalayas come into view. Walking along the ridge you encounter your first views of the dramatically placed Gasa Dzong on the opposite side of the valley. It is an impressive fortress clinging to the mountain side. After a steep climb you will arrive on the outskirts of Gasa (9,141 ft). Small chortens line the path as you pass several small tea shops and enter into the main bazaar with its stone- paved path. A larger village with many shops, a school, and the national park headquarters it is a great place to spend the evening meeting local people and learning more about rural Bhutanese life. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 7 Gasa to Koena (12540 ft) 8.75 miles / 6 Hrs Walking through forests of rhododendron, fir, and birch the trail climbs to the Bari La (12,870 ft). From the pass the northern snow covered Himalayas appear. Descending through more forests you reach a single home in Koena (12,540 ft). Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 8 Koena to Taktsemakhang (10,496 ft) 7 miles/ 5 Hrs Leaving an open pasture the trail carves its way into a dramatic river gorge where thundering waterfalls cascade in on both sides. The steep walls of the canyons are covered with forests of bamboo. Climbing out of the canyon the landscape dramatically changes into high open pasture as the route leads to Taktsemakhang. As you walk through the beautiful river valley, along the way there are chances of encountering traders from the Layap community with their mules and horses participating in the age old traditions of bartering their goods. The afternoon walk is mostly along an easy trail to our camp in Taksemakhang. Weather permitting, you will be able to see the summit of Mount Masang Gang from our trekking camp. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 9 Taktsemakhang to Khurkha ( 12,333 ft) 7.5 miles/ 4-5 Hrs This morning we begin our journey up a side valley to the base camp of Masang Gang, one of Bhutan's more dramatic peaks.

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